HELP

Toluna overview

What is the Toluna Community?

Toluna is an online community dedicated to making your voice heard! Tell the world's leading providers of products and services what you think and earn rewards by completing surveys. You can also express your thoughts through polls and opinions you create directly on Toluna! Let other people know what you think, and find out if people think the same as you. Polls and opinions you create on Toluna can also be included in your own personal blog or website. Every service that our site offers is free of charge, and for participation in many Toluna activities you will be awarded points.

What are Toluna points?

Points are a form of virtual currency awarded to Toluna members for various actions, these include: completion of surveys; inviting friends to join Toluna who complete registration; completing profile surveys. When you sign up on Toluna you will receive 500 points to welcome you to the site. When you have earned at least 30,000 points you may redeem your points for rewards, such as vouchers for great shops and brands or Facebook Credits. To stay up to date on all of our offers, please visit the Rewards Center.

How do I become a member?

To sign up on Toluna simply click on "Register". You will be asked to provide some basic information during your account creation, as well as some more in-depth information about yourself in order to participate in our surveys. After you sign up you will be sent a confirmation email in order to finalize your registration. You must click the link in this email to confirm your registration on Toluna.com and in order to participate in surveys.

Is registration free?

Registration to Toluna is entirely free - you will not be asked for any payment. On the contrary, it is you who earn points that can be exchanged for vouchers and cash payments by completing our surveys, filling out your profile surveys, participating in sponsored surveys, etc.

Why should I become a Toluna member?

Becoming a member lets you take part in surveys and allows you to create your own polls and topics. You can then start to accumulate points that are redeemable for rewards, and you could win up to $2,500 in our monthly drawing!

Participating in surveys

What if I have technical difficulties with a survey, and why does this happen?

We do a variety of surveys for many clients. Some of these surveys are programmed by us others are programmed by our clients and hosted on their systems. A major factor in technical issues is that survey respondents are using a wide variety of operating systems, browsers, Internet connection types, and hardware, and not all are necessarily compatible with the technology of all surveys that may be available. And, of course, sometimes, human error is a factor. If you encounter a technical problem with a survey, usually, if you wait a while, then try again later, the problem will be resolved. If you are still seeing an error after waiting a while, please report it to us here and note the Survey ID. We apologize for any inconvenience caused by technical errors and will do our best to get them resolved.

Why is the survey full when I just received the invitation a short time ago?

Sometimes this happens if a survey is generating greater than expected responses. Also, the invitations aren't necessarily delivered right away by your email service provider. We apologize for any inconvenience you may experience and thank you for your participation. Please know that more survey opportunities will become available.

What are profile surveys and where can I find them?

Your Profile Surveys can be accessed by clicking the "Surveys" tab at the top of the site, here you will see the "Profile Surveys" option. Profile Surveys are designed to allow us to improve personalization of the service we provide to you for completing your Profile Surveys. This means you will receive more, and better targeted, survey invitations. Profile Surveys are divided into three categories: surveys you haven't answered yet, surveys you answered but have since been updated and require your attention (New), and surveys you have already answered. For each completed personal profile survey you are awarded 100 points.

How can I participate in surveys?

Finish your full registration on Toluna and verify your email by clicking on the link you receive in your mailbox. If a survey matches your profile, you will receive an invitation by email or see the surveys available in your Survey Center on Toluna. The more up to date your Profile Surveys are, the more chances you have of being invited to take part in surveys you qualify to take.

How many points will I earn for my participation?

For each completed survey you can generally earn between 15 and 50,000 points (depending on its length). Some special surveys could have even higher rewards values.

How long does it take to complete a survey?

Survey length is strictly dependent on the study.

Will Toluna try to sell me something?

No, under no circumstances will surveys be used to sell or promote a product, nor will you receive any advertising or promotional material as a result of joining the Toluna community.

Sometimes it seems as though I've answered a lot of questions only to find out I don't qualify for the whole survey. Why?

This is because some surveys are looking for a very specific group of people who meet a very narrow set of demographic or other criteria. Sometimes, determining whether someone qualifies for a survey takes just a few questions other times, it may take more questions. Please know we appreciate your participation and that even when you don't qualify, your participation helps contribute to the success of the study. To increase the chances that you will qualify for future online surveys, complete all of the member personal profile surveys. Remember, you are awarded 100 points for each personal profile survey you complete!

Why does it take longer to receive credit for some surveys than others?

The timing of crediting for points or sweepstakes entries depends on the survey. For some surveys, credits are applied very quickly or within a few days, while for others, the credits are applied after the survey has closed. You can expect to wait a maximum of six weeks for points to be credited to your account from when a survey closes, though we try to limit this as much as possible.

Polls: Options & Settings

How do I create a poll?

Click on the "Create" menu. You will be redirected to the poll creation wizard where you will be guided through the process.

Can I add an image or a video clip to a poll?

Yes, click on the camera icon next to the text box during topic creation. Images can be attached to your topic either by using the search feature or by uploading them directly from your computer; videos can be attached via the search function (YouTube only).

Can users select more than one answer to a poll question?

Yes, simply select "Multiple" when creating your poll.

How can I view poll results in detail?

Click on the poll question and you will be redirected to a detailed breakdown of the poll results.

Some polls only display results and cannot be voted on - why?

The poll may have already closed, or you may have already voted on it (polls are limited to one vote per user).

Is there a limit to the number of answers for each poll?

Yes, there is a limit of ten answers for a user-created poll.

How can I view the polls I've created?

Once on your Profile page, scroll down to the "Content" section of the wall. Here there is a tab for your Polls.

What are sponsored polls?

Sponsored polls (also called Quick Votes) consist of 1 question and will earn you 15 points for your participation. Sponsored polls appear on the home page on your dashboard under the "Recommended" stream and additionally by clicking on "Sponsored Content" in the "Explore" tab.

Topics and Opinions: Options & Settings

What is a topic?

A topic is meant to be used when you wish to discuss a subject in an open fashion. Other members can leave their own opinion and feedback regarding your topic, thus creating an ongoing discussion.

How do I create a topic?

Click on the “Create” button in the upper right hand corner, then select “Topics” to be guided through the creation wizard to start posting content.

Can I copy an opinion from another member or another source?

This is strictly forbidden. The content of the opinion you leave is strictly personal in no case whatsoever can your opinion come from another member or website. If we determine that a member has copied opinions from other sources, or that they have posted the same opinion on multiple topics, their account will be subject to cancellation and their points will be forfeited.

Can I add an image or a video clip to a topic?

Yes, click on the camera icon next to the text box during topic creation. Images can be attached to your topic either by using the search feature or by uploading them directly from your computer; videos can be attached via the search function (YouTube only).

Can I add my opinion to an existing topic?

You can add your opinion to an existing topic by clicking on the topic this will redirect you to the Topic page where you can add your own opinion. You can also type your opinion directly into the opinion widget.

How can I express my view on other members' opinions?

Under each opinion you will see the "Thumb up" & "Thumb down" buttons - if you agree with the opinion, click "Thumb up", otherwise click "Thumb down". It's that simple.

How can I view the opinions I've created?

Once on your Profile page, scroll down to the "Content" section of the wall. Here there is a tab for Topics.

What are ‘Favorites' and how do I ‘favorite' something?

Favorites are polls and topics chosen by you for being exceptional and that you'd like to remember and perhaps check back on later. To do this you can click on the heart icon in the bottom left-hand corner of each topic/poll and a notification bar will pop up indicating it has been added to your favorites. Then you can always check them out later as they will be added to ‘Recommended.'

What are the ‘Recent', ‘Popular' options under ‘Polls' or ‘Topics' in the menu ‘Explore'?

Recent indicates the most recent content posted on Toluna.com, which you can then sort between polls/topics/view all. Popular is based on a set of information such as the number of votes or opinions and how recent those polls/topics were posted. Your stream is your personalized stream on Toluna.com.

What is ‘Recommended' option under ‘Polls' or ‘Topics' in the menu ‘Explore' and what will I find here?

‘Recommended' is based on an aggregate of the content you most want to see based on your choices. All of the new content of those you are following, all the content you have chosen to follow, every poll and topic you have ‘favorited' (using the heart icon) and finally all Quick Votes will all be found here, grouped in chronological order.

Battles and Thumb it

What is a Battle?

A Battle let's you post two images or videos side-by-side allowing you to let the community decide which one they prefer. You can see examples by hovering over the "Explore" tab and then clicking on "Battle".

How do I select and upload images/videos for Battles?

First, choose between a video and picture battle. Then, click on the first image to the left of the "VS" and use the search function to find images or YouTube videos to fit your subject. You can also upload an image from your computer. Then do the same for the second media file.

What is a Thumb it?

A Thumb it allows you to post an image or video and let the community decide – via a thumbs up or down – whether they like or dislike what you have presented.

How do I select and upload an image/video for a Thumb it?

Once you have entered the question in the text box where it says "Ask Something" you can click on the image of the camera on the right-hand side of the Create wizard. Then, select either Image or Video and run a search or upload a media file from your computer. Then click "Save" and you'll be able to see a preview of the image or video before clicking "Create".

Are these two features available on the mobile app?

Yes, both the Battle and Thumb it are available on the iPhone/iPad and Android apps and completely integrated with Toluna.com. You can post a Battle or Thumb it while you're out and about and let the community help you out with a quick decision.

Account & Profile

How do I change my email address and password?

Login, then from your Profile tab at the top of the page, select "Account" and then on the left-hand side menu select "Login Settings". Enter your new email address and/or password and then click Submit. You will be sent an email containing a verification link, which you will need to click in order to complete the process.

How can I edit my personal information?

Login, then from your Profile tab at the top of the page, select "Account" and then on the left-hand side menu select "Personal Details", make the necessary changes and then click "Save".

How can I cancel my account?

To cancel your account you must first login, then from your Profile tab at the top of the page, select "Account". At the bottom on the left-hand side of the page you will see the "Unsubscribe Options" link. You will then have the option of unsubscribing from emails and remaining a Toluna member (in this case you must visit the site to take part in surveys) or completely cancelling your account. Please note that if you choose this second option the final termination of your account may take up to two weeks, during which time you may still receive emails from Toluna. In addition, if you cancel your account, your points will be forfeited and you will no longer be able to redeem them.

What are ‘Followers' and ‘Following'?

Followers are Toluna members who have chosen to follow you and receive notifications when you post new content (probably because they like your content!). Following indicates that you have chosen to follow a member (because you like their content!) – thus, you will receive notifications when they post new content. In addition, you must Follow a member in order to send them Gifties.

How do I follow someone?

Go to that member's profile page and click on the ‘Follow' button in the top right-hand corner.

How do I unfollow someone?

Go to that member's profile page and click on the ‘Unfollow' button in the top right-hand corner.

Privacy

What is done with the information I filled out when signing up?

Your profile data is stored on our secured server that allows only Toluna to call upon those members who match specific criteria to participate in surveys. This query is completely automated and members are contacted via email by Toluna to participate in our secure surveys. All responses are held in aggregate, which means that individual responses are not linked to personally identifiable information. The information you provide will never be sold or used to advertise. You are not responsible for buying any product or service at any time, nor will any company solicit you as a result of joining the Toluna community.

Why do you ask questions about age, income and other personal information?

This information is used to match members with specific survey requirements. In some cases our clients require feedback from people in a certain income bracket or those who have children, for example. Please be assured that this information is securely kept and strictly confidential. See our privacy policy for more details. The more information you provide, the greater your chances of receiving invitations to surveys you may qualify for, and the more opportunities you may receive to earn cash rewards.

Can I limit the display of my content (topics and polls) on Toluna.com?

Yes, when you create your poll open the "Security" drop-down and select from three different options: Public (everyone can see your content), Friends (only your Toluna followers will see your content) or Private (only members/friends you invite will see your content). In addition, when you set the security listing to Public it will be searchable from all search engines, while under Friends or Private it will not. So choose wisely!

Notifications

What are notifications?

Notifications are notices that appear in the top right, on the globe icon, beside "Create" (displayed in an orange circle, with a number inside).

What do notifications ‘notify' me of?

Notifications emanating from the box from the tab in the top right portion of each page indicate when new surveys you qualify for are released; about new QuickSurveys; the results of recent lotteries; when you receive a virtual good (Giftie) & if that virtual good becomes real; when a user follows/favorites you or content you have created; when a user posts a message on your wall and finally (and certainly not least!) when The Toluna Team has important information for members.

Can I modify what emails I receive from Toluna in my inbox?

Yes, from your Profile tab at the top of the page, select "Account", then click on "Settings" from the list on the left-hand side of the page. Here you can decide exactly which type of notifications you want to receive via email, including when you are invited to participate in surveys. Simply check or uncheck the boxes and then click on 'Save' at the bottom to register your changes. You can come back and change these choices at any time.

Social Media

Can I create a Toluna account using my Facebook account? How about my Google+ or Twitter account?

Yes, Toluna.com has a fully integrated direct connect option with Facebook. You can choose this option when registering if you would like to sign up using your Facebook account. Toluna currently does not support creating an account using Google+, Twitter or any other social networks however, once you have created an account you can easily share content if you wish via these channels.

Can I control the sharing of content on social media networks?

Yes, in order to turn on or off sharing with social networks please go to your "Account" page, from your Profile tab at the top of the page. From here click on "Sharing Preferences". Here you can decide whether you want to connect your Toluna and social media accounts, as well as if you want to turn on or off automatic sharing. By turning it off you will have to manually decide each time you post content whether you would like to share this with your friends. Please note: automatic sharing is turned off by default.

I don't want to connect social media networks to Toluna.com, do I have to?

No, of course not – Toluna will always give you complete control over the sharing of polls and opinions you and others create on Toluna.com. In addition, there's no requirement to become a part of these social networks to remain active on Toluna – these are simply options given to you, our members.

Points and Rewards

What are the ways I can earn points?

First, you must be a registered Toluna member with a verified email address to begin accumulating points. Once completed, you can earn points by completing surveys found here on Toluna or through invites you receive via email, through sponsored polls, filling out your Profile Surveys and even by inviting your friends to join.

How many points can I win?

There is no limit to how many points you accumulate through Toluna.com surveys, sponsored polls, profile surveys and inviting friends to join.

Do points have to be used within a certain time limit?

Yes. When points are credited to your account they will remain valid for 12 months. If after this period the points have not been used, they will automatically expire and be deleted from your account. Your points will not expire all at once, instead points will expire 12 months after you originally earned them (for example: if you have earned points on the 15th of March 2013, they will be removed on the 28th of March 2014, if they are still in your account). This deduction will always occur towards the end of the month in which they were earned, near the 28th. Please don't wait until the last moment to redeem your points.

How can I check my points balance?

Click your Profile icon tab, next to the Notification icon, select "Points". The Points page allows you to view the actions that have earned you points, your current balance and how you've spent your points so far. On your dashboard, you are also able to see your points balance.

How can I spend my points?

You can spend your points by selecting "Rewards Centre" from the "Explore" menu - here you can see the full list of rewards available in your country.

How long will it take to receive my check once I redeem my points?(US members only)

Please allow up to 8 weeks for delivery. When you redeem your points for a reward you will be asked to confirm your mailing address, email address, bank details or Paypal email address (depending on the reward and country). Please ensure all of your information is correct to avoid any delays in delivery.

Who is eligible for Toluna rewards?

In order to be eligible for Toluna rewards you must be a registered user on the site corresponding with your country of residence.

How will I receive my rewards?

This depends on which country you reside in.

Paper vouchers will be sent to the postal address indicated in your account at the moment your order is placed (please make sure it is up to date before ordering). In case of any address change, you must update your address in your profile and notify the Help Desk if you have a pending voucher delivery.

Electronic vouchers (e-vouchers) will be sent to your Toluna account, or in some circumstances, to the email address indicated in your account at the moment you place an order.

Bank transfers/PayPal requests will be credited directly to your bank or PayPal account.

Rewards for the monthly lottery will be distributed by one of the following means:

Bank transfer

PayPal transfer

Sent by mail if it refers to a paper voucher

Sent by email if it refers to an electronic voucher

Who is eligible for the sweepstakes organized by Toluna?

All registered Toluna members can participate in special sweepstakes. However, in order to have a chance of winning, participants must have a profile image and be considered an 'active' member. In order to be considered active a member must create or participate in an opinion topic or vote in a poll in the three months preceding the sweepstakes.
In order to be eligible for the monthly sweepstakes, you need to have a profile picture and be an active member for a duration of at least two weeks. In order to be considered an active member a user must create or participate in an opinion topic or vote in a poll in the three months preceding the sweepstakes.

How often does the cash sweepstakes take place?

This drawing is held once every month, for a total of 12 times a year.

How will I know I was selected as a winner in the cash sweepstakes?

All winners will receive notification via email and/or notification. Grand and first prize winners will receive a request for mailing address verification and an affidavit of eligibility so that a check can be mailed. Second and third prize winners will have their prize uploaded directly into their account.

Gifties

What are Gifties?

Gifties is Toluna's virtual gift application which is available on Toluna.com. Here you can redeem points for virtual gifts (Gifties) and send them to those you are following and your followers on Toluna, and even email them to your friends who are not on Toluna. Now, here's the cool part: all of these Gifties can become real! If the one you choose does become real, Toluna will ship it to your door in a matter of weeks! We hope you enjoy Gifties as much as we do.

How do Gifties become real and how do we find out if Gifties become real?

All Gifties have a chance to become real. Once you have purchased or received your Giftie you will find out if it is real or not by simply clicking the "Reveal" button. In addition, there will be a Gifties box on your Profile where you can keep track of what you have been given and what has become real! If you don’t redeem your Giftie immediately you can always find it in the Gifties box on your profile and click to reveal to see if you are a winner (limit of once per Giftie).

To whom can I send a Giftie?

You can send Gifties to anyone you are following and to any of your followers on Toluna. You can also send any of your non-Toluna friends a Giftie by email. One thing to note is that Gifties are, for the moment, country specific and thus you cannot send Gifties to anyone outside of the country in which you are a registered Toluna member. You can, of course, always send a Giftie to yourself.

Test Products

What are Test Products?

Test Products is a way for our partners (famous brands) to have users try out new products and hear their feedback before releasing them to the general public. Participating members are chosen at random to take part in product tests. Then, our partners ship the product directly to you to be tested. You get to enjoy the product and send us your feedback. We then transfer this information to the brands for their use in development.

How do I sign up?

Go to the "Test Products" page under the "Explore" tab and pick which product you would like to test. Once you have completed the sign-up process you will be added to the randomized list and, if selected, you will receive the product directly in the mail.

Do I get to keep whatever product I receive?

Yes, absolutely! Once you have received the product to be tested it is yours to keep and we only ask that you provide your feedback.

Mobile Apps

Does Toluna have a mobile app?

Yes, you can find our Toluna iPhone and optimized iPad App here. Currently, the iOS app is available in the following languages: English, French, German, Spanish, Italian and Japanese. We also have an Android App that you can find on Google Play here. Translations will be added on an ongoing basis so check back every so often for yours.

Are there any special features of the mobile app?

Yes, you can complete long surveys on the app just like you can on our website, so you can let your voice be heard and earn rewards on the go. Not to mention, while you can continue to create polls and topics you can also create a 'Thumb It' and a 'Battle' – Thumb It lets you take a photo of something you see whilst you're out and allows you to get a quick thumbs up or down vote from your fellow community members; whilst a Battle lets you post images of two different things and posts them side-by-side so you can let the community decide which they prefer. Please check out the great video we made for the iPhone App by clicking on the link here for more information.

Inviting friends to Toluna

How can I invite friends to join Toluna?

From your Profile icon tab, select "Account", and go to "Sharing Preferences". You can then use the form to invite friends directly from your various email accounts.

How many points will I earn for inviting a friend?

Each time you invite a friend, your account will be credited with 500 points once your friend completes their registration to join the Toluna community.

Contacting Toluna & Support

I've forgotten my password, what can I do?

At the top of the home page, click on "Sign in" and in the same pop up box you will also be presented with the option "What is my password?". You will be asked to provide the email address associated with your Toluna account. You will then receive a reset password email with a link that will remain valid for 6 hours. Following this link will allow you to create a new password for Toluna.

How can I contact Toluna?

For any questions regarding your account, surveys or any other subjects, click here to contact us.You may also write to us at Toluna, 21 River Road, Suite 2000, Wilton, Connecticut, 06897.